Center position takes double hit for New Orleans Saints

One position became the "center of attention'' for Saints Coach Sean Payton at Monday's organized team activity.

The Associated PressNew Orleans Saints receiver Robert Meachem was limited in Monday's practice.

Undrafted rookie free agent center Alex Fletcher of Stanford will be placed on the league's reserve/retired list because of a career-threatening kidney condition, and backup center Nick Leckey underwent right ankle surgery to remove bone spurs.

The Saints signed former University of Cincinnati center Digger Bujnoch, 6-5, 285, to fill Fletcher's roster spot. Bujnoch last went to training camp with the New York Giants.

"Unfortunately, Alex will not be able to continue to play because of the medical issue,'' Payton said. "He has one kidney and the one kidney he has needs some work. It's pretty serious. He was upset and disappointed when we talked but he knows that he has to get this thing better.

"Leckey was operated on and will miss the remainder of OTAs and be healthy in plenty of time for training camp.''

Leckey said he will have the splint on his lower right ankle and leg removed Thursday and rehab will take between "four to eight weeks,'' meaning he will spend his vacation rehabbing in New Orleans.

Other practiced related sights, sounds and observations:

• Reserve guard Jamar Nesbit worked at backup center in the absence of Leckey and Fletcher.

• WR Marques Colston was excused from Monday's OTA.

• WR Robert Meachem has a slightly pulled left hamstring and worked on a limited basis (walk-through and individual work).

• DE Paul Spicer (groin) and WR Adrian Arrington (hamstring) did not work and are still battling nagging injuries.

• The team worked on its two-minute offense and defense for the first time in OTAs. Quarterback Drew Brees drove the first team offense down to a Garrett Hartley field goal.

"We'll work on it again this week before we finish up,'' Payton said. "We need a lot of work. We think it's one of the more important installations. Most of the games we play come down to a team having to score or us having to score. Of the 16 games, it's probably going to take place 12 or 13 times, so it's an important aspect of the game.''

"We've got more installations still. We've got two or three more installs this week. Once we instrall something we continue to practice. Today it's two-minute, tomorrow we'll be working on some short yardage but we'll still come back to two minute. It's both sides of the ball with the communication that goes on in the huddle calls and in a loud environment being able to get lined up and play the correct defense and execute the right play on offense.''

• Payton called Monday's practice in suana-like conditions "a little sloppy.'' "This was a Monday after a weekend practice to me. If you're not on it, if you're not paying close attention, a drill like the 2-minute drill will show itself.''

• CB Randall Gay returned to practice after missing the past week or so with a sore knee.

• The best hit of practice did not come on the field. Twenty minutes in, the sound of a rear-end accident on Airline Drive could be heard from inside the fences.

• LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar drew a smile from Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams, punching the ball from tight end Buck Ortega's grasp which resulted in a scoop and return by cornerback Reggie Jones.